Body garment and cargo pocket therefor



Dec. 29, 1953 c. M. MILLER ETAL 2,663,876

BODY GARMENT AND CARGO POCKET THEREFOR Filed Nov. 21, 1951 '2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS come! 1 Mi 1 er M R oberr L. Woocfbu r9ATTORNEY Dec. 29, 1953 C. MILLER ET AL BODY GARMENT AND CARGO POCKETTHEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 21, 1951 ENTOR5 III) IAIIIIIIIIIIJ'IIIA'IIIIII J I er JVW/R 05am L. Woogfbur Cornell M.M'

Patented Dec. 29, 1953 BODY GARMENT AND THEREFOR Cornell M. Miller,Philadelphia, Pa., and" Robert L. Woodbury, Washington, D. G the UnitedStates of America the- Secretary of the Army assignors to as representedby Application November 21, 1951, Serial No. 257,634

(Granted under Title 35, U. S, Code 952) sec. 266

12 Claims.

The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured andused by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without thepayment to us of any royalty thereon.

Our invention relates to body garments and more particularly to suchgarments combined with cargo pockets and also to a particular cargopocket for a body garment.

Military personnel, hunters, campers, workers and others are frequentlycalled upon to carry excessive amounts of small items of equipment,supplies or the like while hiking. To accommodate such items, thegarments worn frequently are provided with oversize cargo pockets.However, when such pockets are loaded, considerable discomfort resultsfrom walking because the cargo the pockets tends to shift continuouslywhereby to chafe or blister the skin of the wearer. This is particularlytrue where the cargo pockets are provided on or in the region oi thelegs of a garment, such as a pair of trousers, overalls, coveralls orthe like.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to providean improved garment and cargo pocket therefor which includes means forsecuring the cargo and pocket to the body of the wearer.

A further object is to provide an improved cargo pocket for a bodygarment which includes novel tie means for binding the cargo and pocketto the body of the wearer to prevent relative movement of the cargo andwearer.

A further object is to provide such a last described cargo pocketwherein said tie means may be substantially or entirely concealed Withinsaid pocket when not in use.

A further object is to provide an improved cargo pocket for a garmentand tie therefor which includes means for protecting certain elementsthereof from ripping, from catching on projections and to conceal themfrom view.

A further object is to provide such a cargo pocket and tie which can bereadily applied to a standard garment without substantial modificationof the garment and which pocket and tie when not in use will notinterfere with normal use of the garment.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of thegarment and/or pockets, combination and arrangement of the several partsthereof, all of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in theart upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with thefollowing specification wherein the invention is shown, described andclaimed.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a front elevational view showing a body garment and cargopockets according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, front elevational view of. a cargopocket according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a still further enlarged detail view of a portion of a cargopocket according to the invention;

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal sectional view takensubstantially on the plane of the line 5-5 of Figure 3 and showing thepocket expanded as by cargo, the cargo being omitted;

Figure 6 is a like view but showing the pocket in the empty, collapsedposition;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary, front elevational view of thecrotch portion of the garment showing a detail of construction, and

Figure 8 is a view like Figure 6' but showing an alternative way ofusing the structure.

Referring specifically to the drawing, wherein like reference charactershave been used through- 0 out the several views to designate like parts,the

garment illustrated comprises a pair of trousers generally indicated by[0. However, it will be understood that the invention is equallyapplicable to other types of garments. .The garment [0 includes a waistportion H which merges into a pair of leg portions l2. In addition to acomplement of ordinary pockets i3, the garment Ill includes at least oneand preferably two or more cargo pockets I 4. Two, or at least an evennumber of cargo pockets are preferred so that they may be located atopposite points on the garment and tend to provide an equal distributionof the cargo carried therein about the body of the wearer. Of course, insome instances, as where a single pocket is located centrally on theback or front of a garment, a second balancing pocket may be dispensedwith.

In the form of invention illustrated, the two pockets M are located onopposite sides of the garment It in the region of the leg portions l2thereof. The cargo pockets M are oversize relative to the usual pocketsl3 and are preferably expansible as by the front pleats l5 and at leastone side pleat l6 which opens to the rear of the garment. Asthecargo'pockets l4 are substantially identical, except that they areright and left hand pockets, it will suffice to describe but a singleone of them. Each pocket may be closed at the top by a flap I! which maybe secured in the closed position by any suitable means such as thecooperating snap fasteners It. To bind e that the fastener elements thecargo pocket and the cargo therein to the wearer, there has beenprovided the improved tie means new tobe described.

Such tie means comprises a pair-of flexible members 20 which may be asingle member doubled upon itself, as illustrated, or two separatemembers. The inner ends 2| of the flexible member 29 are secured by anysuitable means 22 to the garment in any suitable location but preferablyinteriorly of the cargo pockets 14 for a purpose to be apparenthereinafter. In any event, the secured inner ends 2I--of the ties 20should be located adjacent a short, slit-like opening 23 formed in thepocket l4, preferablyin thepleat 16 so that the opening will beconcealed when the pockets are empty and the pleats are collapsed. Theopenings 23 may be in thenature of buttonholes. The ties 20 are freelyextensible through the openings 23 to provide tie portions extensible inopposite directions about the associated leg portion I2 whereby thecargo pocket 14 and cargo therein may be bound to the leg of the wearer.When not in use, the ties 20 maybe entirely or substantially entirelyretracted within the pockets l4.

However, it is considered to be undesirable to retract the ties entirelywithin the'pocket whereby means have been provided which may comprisecomplementary snap fastener studs and sockets 24 and 25 respectively,secured on opposed folds of the pleats I6, Figure 5. In like manner theouter ends of the ties 20 may be provided with complementary snapfastener sockets and studs 26 and 21 respectively for engagement withthe studs and sockets 24 and 25, Figure 6, to prevent the entirewithdrawal of the ties 20 within the pocket l4. At the same time, theouter ends of the ties are concealed by the folded or collapsed pleat16. Alternatively, the complementary sockets and studs 26 and 21 of theends of the ties 20 may be connected together, Figure 8, to provide aconnection of too great a bulk to pass through the slit 23. It should benoted also 24 and 25 are so located in the pleat that they may beconnected together when the ties 20 are connected as in Figure 8 or areentirely withdrawn into the pocket 14 so as to maintain the pleat is inthe collapsed or closed position. of course, the entire withdrawal ofthe can be prevented simply by tying the ends of the ties 21} togetheras the knot thus formed will be too large to pass through the opening23. Thus, the fasteners 24, 25, 26, 21 may be eliminated.

In a device of this kind it is important also to prevent relativemovement of the ties 20 when they are tied about the leg portions l2 ofthe garment. As best seen in Figure 7, the crotch of the garment hasbeen provided with suitable tie supporting means whereby to preventrelative movement of the ties 29 and leg portions l2 and resultantchafing as the wearer walks. In the embodiment illustrated, such meanscomprises a single strip 28 of the garment material having its endsstitched to the garment as at 29 and 38 and its center likewise stitchedto the garment as at 31 whereby to provide a pair of guide loops 32 forsupportingthe ties 20. Such loops 32 are oppositely disposed relative tothe pockets l4 whereby to provide tie supporting means located at themost remote point from such pockets. Also, it will be noted that suchtie supporting means 32 are so disposed in the crotch of the garmentthat they are substantially concealed when not in use and aresubstantially ties 20 into the pocket 14 r ripping strains otherwiseincident to tying the ties about the leg are borne by the bar tack andare not imposed upon the opening 23- whereby there is no danger oftearing or enlarging such opening and the life of the pocket ismaterially increased. This is an important feature, obviously, as it iswell known that once a rip is started in textile material it is readilyenlarged with much less than the causitive strain. In the absence ofsuch preventive means, the life of the pockets would be materiallyreduced as the nature of the device is such that the ties wouldotherwise impose a ripping strain on the sides of the opening 23.

To provide free action when the cargo pockets i4 areloaded and bound tothe wearers legs, pairs of facing upper and lower horizontal pleats 34and 35, Figure 1, have been provided on opposite sides of the front ofeach leg portion if to define the knee area. Such an arrangement is alsodesirable when the trousers are worn as an overall over the wearersusual trousers, whether the ties 20 are in use or not.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that when the pockets [4 are loadedand bound to the wearers legs by the ties 20, the pockets and cargotherein are secured to the legs against relative movement and chafing orblistering is prevented. Likewise, relative movement of the legs and theties 2B is prevented by anchoring the ties at opposite points on thegarment. At the same time, parts likely to catch on projections, such asthe ties 20, openings 23 and supports 32, are substantially entirelyconcealed when not in use whereby to be protected.

While we have shown and described what is now thought to be thepreferred form of the invention, it is to be understood that the same issusceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, we do notlimit ourselves to the precise structure hereinabove disclosed except ashereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. In a body garment, a cargo pocket secured thereto, said pocketincluding a top and a bottom, said pocket being formed with a restrictedopening therethrough between said top and said bottom, flexible tiemeans secured to said garment interiorly of said pocket, said tie meansincluding two tie portions freely extensible through said opening toprovide means for encircling a portion of the wearer and binding saidpocket and contents to the wearer of said garment.

, 2. The structure of claim 1, there being means connectingadjacentparts of said tie portions together at a point just outwardly of saidpocket.

3. A cargo pocket for a body garment, said pocket including a top and abottom, said pocket being formed with a short, slit-like Opening thereinopening outwardly of said pocket and garment between said top and saidbottom, a pair of flexible ties having inner and outer ends, meansfixedly securing said inner ends of said ties to said pocket inwardlythereof and adjacent said opening, said ties being freely extensiblethrough said opening, means fixedly securing opposed portions of saidties together at a point just outwardly of said opening, and said tiesproviding means for encircling a. portion of the wearer and binding saidpocket and cargo therein to the wearer of the garment.

4. In a body garment including leg portions and a cargo pocket carriedby each leg portion, said pockets each including a top and a bottom; theimprovement comprising a flexible tie means secured to each pocketbetween said top and said bottom, said tie means each being adapted toencircle a leg portion and cargo pocket so as to bind said pockets andcargo therein to a leg of a wearer, said garment including a crotchportion, and at least one tie supporting guide loop in said crotchportion for the passage of said tie means therethrough.

5. In a pair of trousers or the like including leg portions and at leastone cargo pocket carried by one leg portion, said pocket including a topand a bottom; the improvement comprising said pocket being formed with.a short slit-like opening therein between said top and said bottom, aflexible tie folded on itself to provide a bight and free ends, meanssecuring said bight to the inside of said pocket in the region of saidopening, and said free ends being threaded freely through said openingand adapted to be extended in opposite directions so as to encircle theassociated leg portion and bind said pocket and cargo there-- in to aleg of the wearer.

6. A pair of trousers or the like including a waist portion, a pair ofleg portions and a crotch portion, a pair of pleated and expansiblecargo pockets mounted on opposite sides of said trousers, said pocketsbeing located partly on said leg portions and partly on said waistportion, there being a'substantially vertically disposed opening in thenature of a buttonhole formed in each pocket substantially midway of theheight thereof, a pair of flexible ties for each pocket, each tie havinginner and outer ends, means rigidly securing said inner ends of eachpair of ties to the interiors of the respective pockets in laterallyadjacent relation to said openings, and said pairs of ties being freelyextensible through said openings and being adapted to be extended inopposite directions around respective leg portions so as to bind saidpockets and cargo therein to a wearers legs.

7. In a pair of trousers or the like including leg portions and at leastone cargo pocket carried by one leg portion, said pocket having a topand a bottom; the improvement comprising said pocket being formed with ashort slit-like opening therein between said top and said bottom, aflexible tie folded on itself to provide a bight and free ends, meanssecuring said bight to the inside of said pocket in the region of saidopening, said free ends being threaded freely through said opening andadapted to be extended in opposite directions so as to encircle theassociated leg portion and bind said pocket and cargo therein to a legof the wearer, and means securing opposed portions of said free ends ofsaid tie together just outwardly of said opening to avoid the impositionof tearing strains on the sides of the opening by the extension of saidfree ends in opposite directions.

8. The structure of claim 7, wherein said leg portion mounting saidpocket is provided with at least one tie supporting means in remotelyspaced relation to said pocket.

5. The structure of claim 8, wherein said trousers includes a crotchportion, and wherein said tie supporting means comprises a loop locatedin said crotch portion.

10. A pair of trousers or the like including a waist portion, a pair ofleg portions and a crotch portion, a pair of pleated and expansiblecargo pockets mounted on opposite sides of said trousers, said pocketsbeing located partly on said leg portions and partly on said waistportion, there being a substantially vertically disposed buttonholeformed in each pocket substantially midway of the height thereof, a pairof flexible ties for each pocket, each tie having inner and outer ends,means rigidly securing said inner ends of each pair of ties to theinteriors of the respective pockets in laterally adjacent relation tosaid buttonholes, said pairs of ties being freely extensible throughsaid buttonholes and being adapted to be extended in opposite directionsaround the respective leg portions so as to bind said pockets and cargotherein to a wearers legs, and means connecting opposed portions of saidties of each pair together immediately outside of said buttonholes.

11. The structure of claim 10, wherein supporting means for said tiesare carried by said trousers in said crotch portion.

12. The structure of claim 4, wherein each cargo pocket is formed with asmall opening therein, said tie means being secured to said pocketsinwardly thereof adjacent said openings, said tie means being extensiblethrough said openings for use, said tie means being adapted to besubstantially entirely withdrawn into said pockets through said openingswhen not in use, and preventing the entire withdrawal of said tie meansinto said pockets.

CORNELL M. MILLER. ROBERT L. WOODBURY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 955,649 Lewin Apr. 19, 1910 1,403,287 Brisbine Jan. 10, 19221,424,639 Guerin Aug. 1, 1922 1,559,270 Miller Oct. 27, 1925 1,573,212Whitley et a1 Feb. 16, 1926 2,008,134 Freedman July 16, 1935 2,304,574Kirschenbaum Dec. 8, 1942

